Ah, the good old days of living wild and free, when few buildings were taller than coconut trees! It’s hard to imagine that just a few decades ago, Singaporeans were thriving in kampongs and hawking their wares on the streets.

The Way We Were is a creative project started by MessyMsxi and Ai Wei Lua to capture and translate these fond, early memories – contributed by our fellow Singaporeans on the Singapore Memory Portal – into everyday collectibles that everyone can enjoy. Through original watercolour illustrations created by artist MessyMsxi, we faithfully breathe life into scenes inspired by hawkers, night markets, childhood games, and even the minutiae of daily life in the kampong. These memories, long since consigned to the annals of history, evoke the intimacies of communal living when life was simpler and ties were closer.

With our first collection, we hope to help older and younger generations alike remember and discover the special memories of our unique heritage, as they pore over meticulous details through truths well drawn and told.